lndia provided 2.8 million hydroxychloroquine tablets as grant assistance to 25 countries

India has provided 2.8 million hydroxychloroquine tablets as grant assistance to 25 countries. Briefing media yesterday, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said India has also provided 1.9 million paracetamol tablets.  In addition, consignments of hydroxychloroquine and paracetamol are being sent to 87 countries on a commercial basis.

Mr Srivastava said India has responded promptly to requests for deployment of Rapid Response Teams comprising doctors, nurses and paramedics to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. These Teams have so far been deployed in Maldives and Kuwait at the request of their governments.

India continues to remain in touch with partner countries across the world as part of collaborative approach to dealing



with the pandemic. During the last one week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to Presidents of Indonesia, and Prime Ministers of Ireland, Singapore, Canada and Bangladesh. The Prime Minister also spoke to the State Counsellor of  Myanmar yesterday afternoon.

The spokesperson said testing kits from China are under examination under the ICMR and the priority is now to enhance rapid test kits. On reported discord between  India and Gulf countries, he said much of this is propaganda and the real picture is very different. He said they value relations with India, and value the role diaspora has played. He also said that Oman has provided free testing and food to Indians and Oman government has assured extension of visas.